THE MANSE OR, COMFORTABLE HOMES FOR PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS FREE OF RENT. ALSO, LIBRARIES FOR MINISTERS AND CONGREGATIONS. To advance the interests of religion is as much the privilege and duty of the people as the minister; hence it is but just that an equal division of labor, and, if needs be, of sacrifices, should pertain in our church relations; but observation and experience show that ministers are called upon to exercise greater self-denial, bear heavier trials and make more sacrifices than equity demands. In the preceding articles on the MANSE question, I have set forth the condition of the various branches of the Church on this subject, so that my subscribers have in their possession all the information extant on the subject, gathered as it was from original sources. The lack of MANSES not only bears heavily upon the ministers and their families, thereby crippling their energies, undermining their influence and entailing discomfort, if not absolute misery, upon those of "their own household," but the rent they are compelled to pay for a rented house amounts in the aggregate to several hundred thousand dollars every year. If the people would act wisely and erect MANSES, enabling their ministers to live in comfortable homes free of rent, the several hundred thousand dollars now lost would in a great measure be added to the incomes of the various benevolent enterprises of the Church. The tables upon which these conclusions are founded are in articles already published in the Almanac. A proper sustentation of the ministry is a subject which occupies the earnest consideration of the thoughtful members of the Church, not only for their present comfort, but to enable them to In the discussion of this question I use the Presbyterian word MANSE, which is the correct term to signify a home for a Presbyterian minister. It contains the idea of permanence, and means a permanent abode, thus keeping in sight the Presbyterian principle of the permanency of the pastoral relation. The importance of calling things by their right names is well understood by persons of experience and observation. make a reasonable provision for their families at death. The first practical step in this direction is to enable each minister to enjoy the comforts of a home; this can be surely done by building a MANSE. When this question is fully understood, it will be seen that the MANSE is an institution for the people, though it will be a positive blessing conferred upon the minister and his family. It remains when they pass away, well arranged, commodious and complete in its details; it is the central point of the congregation to which all wholesome influences tend. Let each minister, elder, deacon or member, propose a MANSE scheme at once; let it be talked about in the congregations, and it will inevitably grow wherever there is true piety united with zeal for the cause of Christ. As the MANSE and its healthful influences are a direct and immediate benefit to the congregation and neighborhood, it is understood that the effort to raise money should be local, and in villages or the country a tract of land should be added to the MANSE as a glebe. A small piece of land, by means of intelligent industry, will raise enough to meet a considerable portion of a minister's expenditure. A single acre, under the inspiration of scientific cultivation, will cause an annual yield of from one to two hundred dollars; thus living in a MANSE with a glebe would go very far toward supporting a family in a large portion of our country, and in this connection it should be mentioned that the cultivation of land will increase the amount of vigorous health, for lack of which so many ministers are put aside. On even a single acre a man can expend two hours a day; this would save the expense of a horse to ride for exercise, or that most intolerable of all tasks to an educated, active mind, an aimless, monotonous walk of a mile or two and back. To be sure, a walk, a ride, is better than nothing; but the same amount of time spent in doing something profitable, interesting and agreeable is not only of treble value as regards its influence upon the health, but it is that much time saved to the man, to his people and to the world, for that time has not only secured a variety of healthful influence, but it is time saved, and there is the result in work to show for it. A great advance toward a proper sustentation of the ministry will have been made when the MANSE is the rule, and not the exception, in the Presbyterian Churches in the United States. Then will the ministers and the people be able to devise liberal things; then will the objects of benevolence which characterize the Church be vigorously sustained; then will the Church, in the persons of its ministers, be relieved of the heavy burden now resting upon it; then will the pastoral relation extend through life; then will pass away the system of "stated supplies;" then will the number "without charge," be limited to those who through the infirmities of age are relieved in their declining years of the active duties of the pastorate, but who give to their younger brethren the benefits arising from large and varied experiences. This time will surely come, and come soon if the people will only move in the matter. Plans and specifications can be readily obtained, and all that is required is to begin the good work at once. Let each Presbytery secure the following works, viz.: VILLAS AND COTTAGES.-This is a large octavo volume by DOWNING, enlarged by CALVERT VAUX. It contains 400 illustrations, and gives every variety of information on the subject of architecture. It is published by, HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. Price $3. THE HOUSE, COUNTRY HOMES, ARCHITECTURE, Nos. 1 and 2, price $1.50 each, are 4 volumes, prepared and published by GEORGE E. WOODWARD, Architect and Civil Engineer, No. 191 Broadway, New York. The author stands at the head of his profession in New York, and gives in these eminently useful volumes the result of a highly educated taste and an enlarged experience. To the many plans and designs for building are added observations on rural art, which will prove invaluable aids to all who seek to have a home around which will cluster the most delightful associations. A Presbytery is not fully equipped without these volumes, for with them every question can be answered in reference to location, design, cost, &c., of MANSES. When the MANSE is ready for occupation, the study is to be supplied with a LIBRARY, and in this article are notices of books and publishers; and I have found on the part of publishers and booksellers a willingness to co-operate with me in this work which is highly encouraging. Their names are as follows, viz.: HARPER & BROTHERS, Franklin Square, New York. HURD & HOUGHTON, 459 Broome street, New York. AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 150 Nassau street, New York. GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, 416 Broome street, New York. TICKNOR & FIELDS, 124 Tremont street, Boston, & 63 Bleecker street, New York. GOULD & LINCOLN, 59 Washington street, Boston. JAMES S. CLAXTON, 1214 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 1122 Chestnut st:, Philada. PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, 1334 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. WM. RUTTER & Co., cor. 7th and Cherry streets, Philadelphia. GEORGE W. CHILDS, cor. 6th and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia. A library in the MANSE, under such an arrangement as will enable the congregation to have the use of it, will prove a blessing to the people. The pulpit and the press are the levers by which the world must be elevated from sin and ignorance; and ministers well know how much easier it is to preach to congregations possessing some degree of culture, than to those whose opinions are governed by the evanescent literature of the passing hour. The library of the Sabbath-school also comes within the plan of a well-ordered and well-equipped congregation. The notices and advertisements of publications in this volume commend to the attention of ministers, superintendents and teachers many volumes worthy of their consideration. Let them write to these publishers and obtain their catalogues, from which selections can be made and bought on very favorable terms. The various phases of the MANSE question have been set forth in the Almanac for 1862, '63, '64, '65 and '66, and I commend the tables and facts therein published to my readers. I have received the following publications, and give such a description of them as they are justly entitled to: CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL LITERATURE. Prepared by JOHN MCCLINTOCK, D.D., and JAMES STRONG, S. T. D. Vol. I. A. B. HARPER & BROTHERS, Franklin Place, New York. 8vo, pp. 947. $5, illustrated. This Cyclopædia is designed to be a manual of sacred literature for the use of intelligent Christians. In its several departments it treats of I. BIBLICAL LITERATURE; II. THEOLOGY; III. CHURCH HISTORY; IV. RELIGIOUS BIOGRAPHY; V. ECCLESIASTICAL TERMS AND USAGES, RITES, CEREMONIES, RITUALS AND MODES OF WORSHIP. There are 372 illustrations and maps. This volume comprises all that comes within the letters A and B, and is a monument of faithful labor animated by an honest purpose to present facts fairly and consistently. Having explored all the mines from which their materials were to be drawn, and carefully and independently considered every subject introduced, the work is highly satisfactory, and when finished will be a complete theological library, embracing the features of all biblical and theological dictionaries extant. The work is sold by subscription, and ministers, students and colporteurs can make liberal arrangements with the publishers for agencies. A full descriptive circular, with specimen pages, will be mailed on application to the publishers. NOTES, CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY, ON THE BOOK OF GENESIS. By Melancthon W. Jacobus, D.D., Professor in the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa. ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, New York: 2 vols., 12mo., pp. 569. $2.50. S. Austin Allibone, in his "Dictionary of Authors," refers to Dr. Jacobus as follows: "He possesses many qualifications for a successful commentator on the sacred Scriptures. To a mind vigorous by original endowment, he adds the varied stores of sacred learning, analytical powers of a high order, a sound judgment, a severe literary taste, a deep-toned piety, an earnest love of truth, a familiarity with biblical places, objects and customs, from personal observations, while the style in which he clothes his thoughts is clear, strong, compact and epigrammatic." The introduction to the work under consideration, though brief, is especially rich in illustrative and defensive material, furnished by the laborers in this field, adverse and friendly, during the last half century. It enables the common reader not only to understand these early chapters as veritable history, but also to see the shallowness as well as falsehood of the skeptical allegations against them as "unhistorical" and "mythical." The thoughtful reader of this introduction, and the notes on the first three chapters sees that these chapters are historical institutes. They contain the seeds of things, they are the germs of all the subsequent development of humanity and of Christianity, and involve elements of prophecy as well as history. The questions of authenticity, authorship and time of composition, so much controverted, are concisely but satisfactorily treated. So also the "fragmentary" and "documentary" theories of compilation are well disposed of. The book can have but one author, and can be the product of no period later than the Mosaie, of which it possesses all the nearest and historical characteristics. Dr. Jacobus is already well known as a skillful expounder of the New Testament Scriptures. This work shows him equally a master in the Old Testament, and it should be placed in the hands of every clergyman, Sunday-school teacher and biblical student. |